the dale m. volker questionnaire

My state senator sent out a legislative agenda questionnaire inquiring about our opinions on variety of subjects. Dissatisfied with the Yes/No responses that my senator made available to me, I responded in an e-mail. While this may have immediately disqualified my opinions, because it didn't serve his interest of a simple tally of what he can garnish support for during the year, I felt it was the right thing to do, as I explained to him in my e-mail.

I also thought this would be a great way to get a bunch of my opinions out quickly, and with purpose, on this blog. So, with no further delay, I present my 2006 Legislative Questionnaire.

------------------------------

Senator Volker,

Recently I have received a Legislative Questionnaire that presents a number of questions that regard areas in which I have some interest. Your questionnaire left little space for those who would like to elaborate more on their answer, as a simple "Yes" or "No" should not be a conclusive answer to complicated questions such as the ones you've asked your constituents to respond to. It is with this in mind that I have decided to send this email as my official response to your questionnaire. Since I have taken the time to go beyond what you have expected of me in presenting my opinion about what should be your legislative priorities for 2006, I hope you will respond to questions that I have, in kind. Simple redirections to web pages that could inform me on these specific matters would be appreciated and more than sufficient a response.

This is the first time I have participated in the New York state political process in a way that goes beyond a simple cast of a vote.

1. Do you believe that New York State should continue to give tax cuts and finance incentives to new startup companies located in New York State?

This question fails to give some important caveats that I feel are required to furher clarify which businesses you mean. Specifically, I'd like to know how a "startup" company is defined. How many years and/or months does a company have until it no longer is considered a startup company, and is the size and expansion of the company considered at all in this process of qualification? I do support giving as many advantages to local businesses as is reasonable, but I feel a "Yes" on this matter with the reasoning your question currently presents would be irresponsible.

2. The New York State Court of Appeals has mandated that the New York State Legistlature must increase school aid by billions of dollars for New York City. The request could mean huge increaes in state taxes and real property taxes in upstate New York. Do you think the Court of Appeals has overstepped its jurisdiction?

This is another question that I think diserves more clarification. What kind of increases will we be seeing in state taxes, and who will be impacted the most? Seeing as your question seems to imply that there will be /devistating/ impact on Upstate New York, I think I need a better idea of what and who, exactly, would be affected by changes enacted by the NYSCA, and to what degrees.

3. Do you think teachers should be re-tested to ensure that we have quality educators?

You seem like the type of legislator that doesn't like seeing the government mucking around in people's lives. So in response to this question, I have to say "No." I think that school supervisors should make the determination as to whom is and isn't competant to be teaching. While your question makes it seem like I'm against having "quality educators," it does so by presenting a false choice, a logical fallacy I find offensive. The question seems to imply that if I care about having "quality educators," then I will support retesting, and if I don't care, then I won't support retesting. But, getting back to why I responded as I did, I think that any teacher is certified in the first place is for a reason, and it is because of their competence. Once again, your questionnaire has failed to provide any reason why I should believe otherwise, and so I'll continue to believe that, while failing students continue to be a problem in New York, it isn't because of teachers. It is because of this view that I believe retesting is unnecessary and that a different approach to education reform should be persued.

4. Would you support the State of New York assuming the local share of your county's Medicaid program as some government officials, business leaders, and editorial boards have suggested, even if it meant your state taxes would increase by billions of dollars?

The questionnaire has once again failed to specify who would receive the brunt of the impact from the "billions" of dollars in tax increases. Your question should instead tell us how much, on average, each of us in each different tax bracket would have to endure in tax increases, as well as impact on new startup companies as compared to established businesses. Like other subjects that this questionnaire presents, I'm not an expert on the economics of taxation. So, if this request is considered unrealistic or unreasonable, then please respond instead with an explination as to why presenting the tax increase as simply "billions" is somehow more reasonable and more realistic.

5. In terms of school vouchers, do you support allowing students and parents to choose a private school over a public school at taxpayer expense.

I would say "yes" to this question, in part. I think that a limited amount of the expenses for private schooling would be okay. This amount should be determined by income of the parents, as it is, I feel, the only reasonable way to balance giving parents and students a choice over where they go to school and maintaining public financing of public schools. To pay for private education based on any other criterium, such as the student's ability to learn, is setting the stage for a two-tier education system where advantaged kids get even more advantages over other students, by pulling away inappropriate amounts of money from public schools in addition to keeping less advantaged kids that come from impoverished environments from being able to attend private schools. In closing, I certainly hope this charter program is done with the interest of targeting less advantaged students.

7. Should small businesses be given a tax cut for providing health insurance to their employees?

As I have already stated, I feel that local businesses should receive as many benefits as is reasonable. However, I would like to know how much of a tax cut would be given to small businesses that provide healthcare to employees, and how this tax cut will be paid for.

8. Do you support a universal health system that would provide health care coverage under a government program (As opposed to the current employee-based system) even if it means higher taxes or repealing tax cuts?

I've often considered such a proposal, but the current wisdom that floats around the subject implies that a universal health care system would be detrimental to our health care. I've never understood how socially subsidizing our current healthcare system would suddenly, and necessarily, turn it into a mess; although I do appreciate that additional bureaucracy could muck things up to some extent. You opinions and insight into such a system would be appreciated, and any resources about the subject would also be appreciated. For the moment, based on how I currently understand the debate, I say "No" to this question.

9.) Are health care costs, not health care benefits, your chief health care concern?

Simply, no. I've always been of a mind that believes that a dollar of prevention prevents ten dollars in expense. With that in mind, I say that almost any amount spent in healthcare is money well spent, which implies that benefits are more important than costs.

10.) Should New York State continue to dedicate financial resources to provide health care insurance to the uninsured?

Yes.

11.) Should New York State residents be required to pay a New York State sales tax for items they purchase over the Internet?

I feel this is a complex question that diserves a complex answer. I feel that a consumer's money is best spent when it is spent as close to home as possible. New York consumers purchasing from another state, or worse yet, from another country, is detrimental to that interest. With that in mind, I am also against more taxes that are against consumers. Furthermore, I can't understand why New York State should benefit from purchases that originate from another state. I would say that, from my point of view, that a tax could be imposed on sales originating /in/ New York. This however, causes the problem of causing a detrimental effect of online buyers not wanting to shop at New York-based internet stores. A national Internet sales tax that is imposed at the state level that uses the /national average/ of state sales taxes would be interesting, but may be oversimplified to the point of being offensive. Due to this myriad of arguments, I'm going to say "No" to this question.

12) Do you support the protection of "traditional marriage" between a man and a woman?

Yet another question that deserves more than a Yes/No response. I'm an athiest, but I respect the religious traditions of others. I also support non-religious traditions, as well. I feel that it is an American tradition to be progressive and more inclusive as the times change. This, I feel, is a non-religious tradition that diserves the support of anyone with the opinion that America should be more inclusive as it ages, indeed, that all men are "created equal." With this in mind, I am against gay marraiges, but I support civil unions that give all of the legal benefits to gay couples, an entirely reasonable position that I can't see you disagreeing with in any way. I'm open to a differing opinion, but I doubt I will ever be swayed on this matter.

13) In response to the question regarding assault rifles:

Everybody is a law abiding citizen until they break the law. If someone decides they want to do something unlawful, I'd like to know that they aren't toting one of these "so-called" assault weapons that they were formerly using just for "hunting, recreatinal, and personal protection use." Let's be reasonable, Senator.

This argument, of course, assumes guilt, and I realise that. But, your own question states that only the "majority" of assault rifles are used for legal purposes. You, as well, are assuming some degree of guilt when you say that the minority will be used for illegal purposes. I'd hate to devolve into emotional pleas, but how many people have died in this minority of illegal uses you speak of? And how many of those illegally used assault weapons were purchased legally? In conclusion, I respond "No."

14) Regarding Erie County Legislature replacement.

No.

15) Should New York State provide funding to assist farmers in protecting food products from tampering and from potential terrorist activities within our food chain?

Indifferent.

16) In your viewpoint, which is the most important issue facing New York Stat government?

I feel that Education always is and always should be the most important legislative consideration. Educational issues feed directly into the other issues listed, in the long run, and in a myriad of ways.

17) Are you able to easily access your State government and its agencies?

Honestly, I've never tried.

----------

In conclusion, I'd like to express some more concern about the questionnaire itself, which is the original reason why I decided to write this e-mail instead of responding by mail.

The questionnaire you sent to your constituents was highly biased to a certain point of view. Almost every question made a disagreeing opinion sound like a really, really bad response. In future inquiries of your constituents, I would like to see references to web sites that provide detailed information regarding the subject matter. In addition to this, I'd like to see more encouragement for elaboration on responses, and ample room for doing so.

Thank you for your time and consideration of my views.